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Workshop on Decommissioning of Oil& Gas offshore infrastructure

The Italian experience and state of art

14th EUOAG MEETING Brussels, 20th September 2017

Antonino Caliri and Salvatore Carbone – EUOAG Member Roberto Cianella – DGS-UNMIG , Italian Ministry of Economic Development Silvia Grandi – DGS-UNMIG, Head of Unit, Italian Ministry of Economic Development

Italian Ministry of Economic Development DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR SAFETY OF MINING AND ENERGY ACTIVITIES

NATIONAL OFFICE FOR HYDROCARBONS AND GEORESOURCES

In Italy, several of the offshore oil& gas installations (mainly jacket steel platform) were developed during the 60s and 80s of the previous century. Some of them reached or are approaching the end of the field life

Introduction 1/2

Safe decommissioning of all these infrastructures: very sensitive phase from, environmental, technical, financial and social point of view Crucial Element: coordination of • Competencies, expertise • Best available technologies • Regulations • Dialogue with stakeholders

Introduction 2/2

International Convention 1. Ginevra Convention (1958 – United Nations Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf)

2. London Convention (1972 – Convention on the prevention of marine Pollution of wastes and other matter)

3. United Nations Convention - UNCLOS (Unite Nations Convention on the Law of Sea)

4. IMO (International Maritime Organization)

1. Oslo Convention (mainly applicable for the North Sea)

2. Guidilines OSCOM (1991 - North Sea)

3. OSPAR Convention for the sea protection (1991 - North Sea)

4. Barcellona Convention (applicable for the Med. Sea)

Relevant Int’l Regulations

Regional Convention

Baseline: Total removal of the

platforms & connected infrastractures

Italian Planning 1/2

Starting from mid 2016, DGS UNMIG has launched a new decommissiong plan

1. Development of relevant methodology to classifying off-shore platforms interlinked with UE Reg. 1112/14 Report

Italian Registry of the off-shore platform towards decommissioning

2. Regulatory updated framework for decommissioning in compliance with the BAT & int’l legal framework

• Technical Working Groups

• Guidelines for the Report on Major Hazard

• Guidelines for quality & environemental decommission

Italian Planning 2/2

3. Stakeholder’s consultation on alternative uses Forum «The future of platform», working groups 4. National, European & Networking Collaborative & Reseach Projects (H2020, Interreg) 5. Strong connection with Marittime Spatial Planning & Blue Growth 6. Events, Reporting & Communication

Safe and Sustainable Decommissioning Project

Guidelines for «Relazione Grandi Rischi»

For fixed production plants (like offshore platforms), the Italian normative requires (D.lgs. No. 145/2015) a Report on the Risks associated with the various Decommissioning

activities and imposes their total removal

Draft guidelines (including decommissioning focus) under final approval round in the Italian Offshore Committe

Guidelines for the Q&E Decommissioning

• The Italian legal framework for the offshore oil&gas activities already disciplines the plug and abandon of the gas/oil wells as well as the disposal of the treatment facilities and equipment of the platform.

• All these activities are performed under the responsibility of the Operator and they should be authorized following the procedure currently in place by the CA (DGS-UNMIG Office) + other competent authority according to need

• The vast majority of the existing platform in the Italian economic waters, ready to be decommissioned did not have an EIA procedure, because at that time (60s and 80s) it was not applicable New Guidelines according Decree 104/2017

Key topics

allows the choice of the best (sustainable & safety) option of Decommissioning and of the relating dismantling and removal techniques

The Multi-Criteria Analysis could be a good Decision Tool

Past Experience

• 49 ptf located in water depth ranging from 10 to 25 meters already decommissione in the late 80s and 90s campaigns.

Topsides, treatment facilities, deck infrastructures: all dismantled and conveyed in onshore for the final recovery and/or disposal (Circular Economy ante litteram)

Jacket steel infrasctures: 23 have been

used as artifical reef (Paguro) + 26 have been removed and treated in dedicated onshore areas for final disposal

An interesting Case study: PAGURO

The only & last Italian major accident in Italian offshore: the drilling platform ”Paguro” explosed & collapsed on 1965 The submarine structure increased during ‘80 and ‘90 by the placement of ferrous masses taken from the removal of other platforms, becoming of an artificial reef.

BEFORE (1964-1965)

COLLAPSE (1965)

MARINE ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (1965-2017)

The submarine structure started a new unique marine ecosystem & ‘80 and ‘90 increased in size of ferrous masses taken from the removal of other platforms, becoming of an artificial reef.

NOW (2017)

• In 1995, became a biological protection zone called “Paguro”, according to a Ministerial Decree

• Furthermore it became also a Site of Community Importance IT4070026 – SIC

• Local Territorial PROUD & INDUSTRIAL ARCHEOLOGY HERITAGE, with high consensous:

– Conservation association,

– Local community involvement

– Wine cellar

– Scuba diving tourism attraction

Further information at link: http://www.associazionepaguro.org; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT6lsw_KFxI

An interesting Case study: PAGURO

Which Alternatives?

Can decommissioning be a trigger for new safe,

sustainble economic and/or scientific activities ?

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Back-up

Italian Ministry of Economic Development DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR SAFETY OF MINING AND ENERGY ACTIVITIES

NATIONAL OFFICE FOR HYDROCARBONS AND GEORESOURCES

IMO

Date Profondità d'acqua Weght - Jacket Note

Commissioned before 1998

< 75 m and < 4,000 t Complete Disposal

> 75 m or > 4,000 t Partial Disposal up to 55 m water depth

Commissioned after 1998

< 100 m and < 4,000 t Complete Disposal

> 100 m or > 4,000 t Partial Disposal up to 55 m water depth

Designed after 1998 New ptf should be designed for the complete disposal

OSPAR

Type of infrastrcure Weight Complete Disposal Partial Disposal Re-use Offshore Abandonment

Fixed < 10.000 t Y NO Y(2) NO

> 10.000 t Y Y (1) Y (2) NO

Concrete Base NA Y Y (1) Y Y (3)

Floating NA Y NO Y NO

Subsea NA Y NO Y NO

1) It is requested 55 m of free splash zone

2) L'abbandono in mare e il riutilizzo delle strutture per scopi differenti da quelli originari è regolamentato dalle linee guida contenute nelle OSPAR

3) The disposal of a concrete base installation should be considered as an excpetional event

IMO & OSPAR